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Published On: July 9th, 2019

 

The Battle Creek Bombers surrendered a 2-0 lead to the Kokomo Jackrabbits on Tuesday night, as Kokomo won 9-3.

 

Battle Creek scored two of their runs in the first inning off of Kokomo starter Aaron Husson. Caleb Balgaard was hit by a pitch, and John Malcom hit an RBI triple halfway up the wall in right-center field to bring him home. Malcom then scored on Trace Peterson’s first RBI as a member of the Bombers, as Peterson hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

 

From then, though, the tide turned completely. Five consecutive batters reached in the bottom of the second inning for the Jackrabbits against Bombers starter Ty Shoaff. A sacrifice fly from Hagan Severance with the game tied gave Kokomo a lead that they would not relinquish. The Jackrabbits added three more runs in the fourth inning, including a wild pitch from Shoaff got away from Battle Creek catcher Gabe Sotres to score two. A second wild pitch added another run for Jackrabbits, who at that point led 6-2.

 

Trevor Smisek came into the game in relief of Shoaff for the sixth inning and gave up an additional three runs. Smisek threw one inning, surrendering all three runs without giving up a hit. A hit-by-pitch, coupled with five walks, opened up the Kokomo lead to 9-2. In the seventh inning, Husson would give way to Kenny Johnson, who was credited with the save for throwing three innings for Kokomo.

 

Johnson allowed only one run, which came in the top of the ninth inning. The second triple of the game for Battle Creek, this time off the bat of Kolby Johnson, set up an opportunity for Michael Lee. Lee would deliver a sacrifice fly to right field to bring the Bombers closer, but Kenny Johnson would close the door.

 

Kokomo has now won six of their seven matchups this season against Battle Creek, but the Bombers will get another chance on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 7:05 eastern time at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.

 

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